It’s time to finally do something with George’s Dock – and fast, councillors say

Councillors for the north inner-city say they want the council to finally redevelop George’s Dock – and fast.

On Tuesday, at a meeting of the Central Area Committee, they agreed an emergency motion calling for a comprehensive report into the council’s plans for the unused space just north of the Liffey, between EPIC and the IFSC.

The committee supported the motion, tabled by four councillors, some of whom said that they continue to support plans for an outdoor swimming pool, or lido, at the site.

After the council’s plan to build a whitewater-rafting facility in the dry dock bellyflopped in 2021/2022, council managers floated the idea of an outdoor rescue centre together with an outdoor swimming pool, or lido.

But councillors preferred the idea of a lido without the rescue centre, and in January 2023 they heard a presentation by the Dublin City Lido Campaign.

Two years on, the councillors at the Central Area Committee meeting Tuesday wanted to know why progress on doing something with the site has stalled.

Patrick Earls, founder of the Dublin City Lido group, says it is set to meet council managers on 24 February. “We have a very advanced piece of feasibility done,” he says.

The group has gathered more than 4,000 signatures on a petition launched in January 2021 in support of their proposal for the site.

If for any reason the lido project doesn’t progress, councillors still want the site developed. Some would back a park, possibly with water features or an events space too. A local football club wants George’s Dock used for a soccer pitch.

“I’m open to getting something done with that, yesterday,” says Social Democrats Councillor Daniel Ennis. “We need to see presentations and real solid plans.”

Green Party Councillor Janet Horner says the council should consider interim uses for the site, such as a skatepark, until it gets a long-term water-based project off the ground.

What happened to the Lido proposal?

After the whitewater-rafting plan fizzled, councillors in February 2022 called for public consultation on what to do with George’s Dock.

And the council agreed to consult with the Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum on proposals for George’s Dock.

That forum has 21 members, including an independent chairperson, the council’s chief executive, four councillors, five people “engaged in community development”, five people “engaged in economic activity”, one person from “an educational organisation” and five members “from public authorities”.

The minutes of that forum from September 2022, say that a council official presented a feasibility report for the idea of a lido and swift-water training facility. A special meeting on George’s Dock would follow, say the minutes.

Dublin City Council hasn’t responded to queries sent Thursday as to why the project has not progressed since then.

Fine Gael Councillor Ray McAdam, who sits on the forum, says George’s Dock was discussed there but no recommendation was made. “I don’t recall it being rejected, there wasn’t a mechanism for that,” he says. “It was an oversight forum.”

Community groups were concerned that any development at George’s Dock would be

accessible for all the residents, McAdam says, including those on low incomes.

Earls says the Dublin Lido Campaign’s vision is that central government grants for sporting infrastructure would help cover building costs.

The pool would be professionally run, on a not-for-profit basis, using a similar model to the Swan centres in Rathmines and Crumlin, says Earls. “It’s absolutely vital that the cost is reasonable for local people,” he says.

“It’s a positive, inclusive project that would be great for the inner-city,” says Earls. The monthly membership and drop-in rates would be kept affordable.

McAdam, the Fine Gael councillor, Sinn Féin Councillor Janice Boylan, Social Democrats Councillor Daniel Ennis and independent Councillor Nial Ring tabled the motion Tuesday calling for a report from the council on options for George’s Dock.

“So that we then as the area committee can discuss the matter in greater detail,” said McAdam, at the meeting.

The motion includes a call for an update as to what engagement the council managers have had with the Dublin City Lido campaign.

In response, the council’s area manager for the north inner-city, Marie Kavanagh, said she would arrange a report.

What should happen there?

McAdam, Horner and Ennis all say that they are still interested in examining the details of the proposal for a lido at George’s Dock.

“I believe in the lido project, I think it would be fabulous for the area,” says Ennis. “It would be something totally out of the ordinary.”

McAdam says the council should develop the site in line with the objective in the city development plan for a water-based feature or activity at the site.

“This is a massive flagship site for the inner city, with huge redevelopment potential,” says Horner.

She supports the idea of the lido. “I think the lido is one great possibility,” she says. “I’m also interested in other possibilities.”

For example, Dublin City Council could develop a small park with water features, like Mayfield Park in Manchester, which has a river running through it, she says.

Ennis says that open green space at George’s Dock could help connect residents from the Docklands with the rest of the north inner-city community. “That would be a perfect space for outdoor events and bringing people together.”

A local football club, Sheriff YC, said last September they want to see the site developed for a football pitch, arguing that there is no full-sized soccer pitch in Dublin 1.
According to FIFA measurements a full-size soccer pitch wouldn’t quite fit there. George’s Dock measures 96m x 72m, according to a council report, while FIFA says a pitch should be 105m x 68m.